Crops of alfalfa genotypes in the soil with very low and very toxic concentrations of mobile aluminium

Abstract

AbstractAlfalfa adapts well to various climatic conditions, however, is sensitive to acidic soils. The aim of this study was to estimate the agro-biological traits in the acidic soil with different toxicity of mobile Al concentrations. The field experiment was carried out at the Vėžaičiai Branch of Institute of Agriculture of LAMMC. The crops of alfalfa genotypes (19 cultivars and 11 populations) were established on a Balthygleyic Dystric Retisol in 2018 and 2020. The agro-biological traits were evaluated in the seasons of 2019–2020 and 2021–2022. The results showed that the crops of alfalfa genotypes had the best agro-biological traits in the least toxic concentration of mobile Al (0.00–25.26 mg kg−1). In the soil with 26.79–50.25 mg kg−1 mobile Al, alfalfa genotypes differently varied by all agro-biological traits, these genotypes could be used to select the most specific genotypes with individual traits resistant to acidic soil. The soil with 52.14–74.08 mg kg−1 mobile Al can be used to select genotypes from single plants that survive successfully after wintering. In soil with 76.86–97.00 mg kg−1 mobile Al, the crops of genotypes died very quickly, due to very low resistance to acidic soil with mobile Al concentration.

Keywords

• Alfalfa
• mobile Al toxicity
• agro-biological trait
• concentration
• acidic soil